RNA-seq of newly diagnosed patients in the PADIMAC study leads to a bortezomib/lenalidomide decision signature.

Improving outcomes in multiple myeloma will involve not only development of new therapies but also better use of existing treatments. We performed RNA sequencing on samples from newly diagnosed patients enrolled in the phase 2 PADIMAC (Bortezomib, Adriamycin, and Dexamethasone Therapy for Previously Untreated Patients with Multiple Myeloma: Impact of Minimal Residual Disease in Patients with Deferred ASCT) study. Using synthetic annealing and the large margin nearest neighbor algorithm, we developed and trained a 7-gene signature to predict treatment outcome. We tested the signature in independent cohorts treated with bortezomib- and lenalidomide-based therapies. The signature was capable of distinguishing which patients would respond better to which regimen. In the CoMMpass data set, patients who were treated correctly according to the signature had a better progression-free survival (median, 20.1 months vs not reached; hazard ratio [HR], 0.40; confidence interval [CI], 0.23-0.72; P = .0012) and overall survival (median, 30.7 months vs not reached; HR, 0.41; CI, 0.21-0.80; P = .0049) than those who were not. Indeed, the outcome for these correctly treated patients was noninferior to that for those treated with combined bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone, arguably the standard of care in the United States but not widely available elsewhere. The small size of the signature will facilitate clinical translation, thus enabling more targeted drug regimens to be delivered in myeloma.

Ammonium tetrathiomolybdate following ischemia/reperfusion injury: Chemistry, pharmacology, and impact of a new class of sulfide donor in preclinical injury models.

BACKGROUND: Early revascularization of ischemic organs is key to improving outcomes, yet consequent reperfusion injury may be harmful. Reperfusion injury is largely attributed to excess mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Sulfide inhibits mitochondria and reduces ROS production. Ammonium tetrathiomolybdate (ATTM), a copper chelator, releases sulfide in a controlled and novel manner, and may offer potential therapeutic utility. METHODS AND FINDINGS: In vitro, ATTM releases sulfide in a time-, pH-, temperature-, and thiol-dependent manner. Controlled sulfide release from ATTM reduces metabolism (measured as oxygen consumption) both in vivo in awake rats and ex vivo in skeletal muscle tissue, with a superior safety profile compared to standard sulfide generators. Given intravenously at reperfusion/resuscitation to rats, ATTM significantly reduced infarct size following either myocardial or cerebral ischemia, and conferred survival benefit following severe hemorrhage. Mechanistic studies (in vitro anoxia/reoxygenation) demonstrated a mitochondrial site of action (decreased MitoSOX fluorescence), where the majority of damaging ROS is produced. CONCLUSIONS: The inorganic thiometallate ATTM represents a new class of sulfide-releasing drugs. Our findings provide impetus for further investigation of this compound as a novel adjunct therapy for reperfusion injury.

Myeloma impairs mature osteoblast function but causes early expansion of osteo-progenitors: temporal changes in bone physiology and gene expression in the KMS12BM model.

Myeloma bone disease results from an uncoupling of osteoclastic resorption and osteoblastic bone formation, but early changes in osteogenic function remain poorly defined. We used the KMS12BM xenograft model to investigate cellular and molecular events at early and late stages of disease. Lytic lesions and changes in osteoblast and osteoclast numbers occur late (8 weeks), however, micro-computed tomography of femora revealed significant reduction in bone volume at earlier disease stages (3 weeks) when tumour burden is low. Calcein labelling demonstrated reduced mineralization and bone formation at 3 weeks, suggesting functional impairment despite preserved osteoblast numbers. Osteo-progenitors from compact bone increased early (1 week), but fell at 3 weeks and were profoundly suppressed by 8 weeks. Exposure of osteoblast progenitors to multiple myeloma (MM) cells in vitro induced cell cycling, suggesting a mechanistic basis for early expansion of osteo-progenitors. We observed temporal changes in chemokine, osteogenic and osteoclastogenic genes in the stromal compartment. Notably, an early rise in CCL3 may underlie functional changes in mature osteoblasts at 3 weeks. Our data indicate that MM has distinct effects on mature osteoblasts and immature osteo-progenitors. Our findings argue for early clinical intervention to prevent bone changes that ultimately lead to the development of osteolytic disease.

Cambiando un programa de posgrado en neurociencia. Historia de una propuesta abierta elaborada por y para estudiantes de doctorado / Changing the curriculum of a postgraduated program in neuroscience. The story of an open proposal elaborated by and for Ph.D students

Introducción: El curso académico 1999-2000, siguiendo las directrices del nuevo Real Decreto para los Estudios de Posgrado, el programa de Doctorado en Neurociencia de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona se vio obligado a adaptar su currículo a la nueva legislación (RD778/1998). Material y métodos: Considerando las diferencias de conocimientos existentes entre los futuros doctorandos e evitando la hiperespecialización de los contenidos, la Asociación de Estudiantes de Neurociencias elaboró una propuesta curricular basada en 8 cursos fundamentales y 5 cursos metodológicos. Según la base de conocimientos de la licenciatura, los estudiantes deberían superar 5 cursos fundamentales y entre 2 y 3 cursos metodológicos para completar los 20 créditos mínimos de formación. Se elaboraron programas detallados para cada curso y la propuesta fue enviada a 24 profesionales relacionados con la neurociencia, con la intención de recoger críticas, comentarios y sugerencias en un formato abierto. Resultados: Se recibieron un total de 9 respuestas (37 per cent), 7 de ellas consideraron la propuesta totalmente positiva (78 per cent) mientras que 2/9 (22 per cent) consideraron los contenidos de los programas demasiado elementales para estudiantes graduados y mostraban su desacuerdo general con el proyecto. Además, 3 profesores expresaban algunas críticas sobre aspectos puntuales del contenido de los programas, mientras que cuatro se ofrecían para impartir cursos específicos adaptados. Conclusiones: La propuesta sirvió para abrir un debate sobre modelos generalistas y especializados de currículo de doctorado y para estimular la discusión sobre la enseñanza de la neurociencia en la Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona (AU)